Protect Your Family From Electrical Shock With GFCI Outlets

27 June 2017

Electrical shocks happen for many reasons. It could be due to bad wiring, a faulty appliance, an ungrounded outlet, or contact with water and electrical current at the same time. You know to avoid some activities for the sake of safety. For instance, you probably wouldn't attempt to rewire your home by yourself. However, you may not realize your home is a danger if you don't have GFCI outlets in your bathroom and kitchen. Here is some more information about these safety outlets and why you should have an electrician install them in your home.

GFCI Outlets Weren't Installed In Older Homes

If you live in an older home with an old and outdated electrical system, you probably don't have GFCI outlets. They were not routinely used until the electrical codes changed. Now, they are required in all new construction. An electrician can bring your outlets up to modern safety standards by installing GFCI protection in your older house, and this is something you should consider doing, especially if you have kids in your home.

GFCI Outlets Cut Off Power Before You Are Shocked

These outlets are installed in wet areas of your home such as the bathroom, kitchen, laundry room, garage, and on outdoor outlets. That's because your risk of electrocution is higher when you're wet and there is stray electricity. For instance, you might be shocked if you stand on a wet bathroom floor in bare feet while you use an electric hair dryer. Or you might be shocked by standing on a wet garage floor while working with power tools. When a GFCI outlet senses stray electricity, it automatically breaks the circuit so electricity stops flowing. This split-second action keeps you from being shocked or electrocuted.

GFCI Outlets Should Be Tested Monthly

To ensure your safety, you should test your outlet on a monthly basis. It's very easy to do. All you have to do is plug a lamp into the outlet and press the reset button. The lamp should light up. Press the test button and the light should go out which indicates the outlet will cut the power in an emergency. Press the reset button again and the light should come back, indicating the outlet is ready for ordinary use.

Installing new GFCI outlets is an easy job for an electrician, so the work goes fast and the cost is reasonable. You don't need to replace every outlet in your home, only those in areas where you are likely to get wet or stand in water while using tools or appliances. Putting in these outlets is an easy way to protect yourself and your family from a a bad shock or fatal electrocution.

About Me

During the house-buying process, there are so many things to look into as you inspect your potential new home. One element that is critical to be inspected thoroughly is the electrical system. Knowing what the signs are that could tell you that there are electrical problems that could be hazardous to your family or very expensive to repair will help you to avoid buying the wrong house. I'll show you what to look for and signs that warrant an inspection by a certified electrician before you even make an offer on a home. I hope this information helps you through your home-buying process.